Soyagera journey into healthier living

Yup. I eat fish and other seafood.

I think I may have mentioned this fact before, but from the looks of things on this site, I really come off as a die-hard veg. Aaaaand… I am.
Let me explain:

The Hubs and I have an agreement that we will eat to live, eat for health, and also occasionally splurge on things that aren’t so healthy (like that homemade chocolate cake my grandmother makes). Personally, I don’t let my eating habits interfere with relationships.  For example, a veg cousin of mine once refused a butternut squash soup, made by our sweet, aforementioned grandmother, because it was made with chicken broth. Poor Grandmom thought she was making a perfectly fine veggie soup, and when Cousin said she wouldn’t eat it, “You should have seen Grandmom’s face. I’ll never do that to her again. I wish I would have just eaten it.”

Now, this is not to say that I’m going to partake in a traditional Thanksgiving, just for the sake of the matter, or that I’m going to give in when my mother says (even though she knows the answer), “You guys won’t eat chicken?” Or, “But I made a delicious pulled pork…” But I will enjoy myself when in the company of friends and family and not get too caught up in the ingredients of things (to a point) if it’s beyond my control.

And I will eat some fish. Wild caught. Not an over-fished species. And purely for the health benefits.

The last time I prepared fish (a few days ago), I thought about swearing off of it. It had been alive! I was cutting through something’s muscle and bone and veins. ::shudder:: I also made the mistake of wanting to show-off my raised-by-the-shore heritage by letting Hub’s friend bring over some freshly-caught crabs. I wanted to show Hubs how to pick one. So, I was placed in charge of overseeing the cooking. It made me sad. I can’t believe I allowed a live animal to be boiled alive in my kitchen. See how pride is a deadly sin? Never again.

This empathy is a fresh feeling for me, truly. When I began this diet, I sympathized with true vegs but had no empathy for the animals. However, after being pregnant, giving birth to a life, and being completely immersed in the process of the makings of life, it is VERY hard to consume something that once had life, or was meant to give life, or lost its life unnecessarily. It sounds a little batty, but I feel more in touch with that life energy having experienced it firsthand through giving birth.

So, little fishies, we shall see if you end up on my platter in the future. I know that the Omegas found in fish are necessary for building little Soy Sprout’s brain, but how can I counterbalance the guilt I feel eating it?